Are you tired of wasting money buying replacement sunglasses? It can be very easy to inadvertently scratch or break your glasses, especially if you live an outdoor lifestyle. However, the right pair of shades can make your sport(s) more enjoyable and safer, making it imperative to take proper care of your equipment. After investing time to find the right frames, patterns, colors and materials, it makes sense to maintain the glasses for as long as possible. Some important, but overlooked sunglasses care tips include rising, careful spraying, correct drying materials and proper placement.
Proper Rinsing
You should always rinse your glasses off with water before cleaning them. This will remove tiny particles of dust and dirt that stick to the lenses. If you dry lenses that have dust on them, it can wear down the lens over time.
Warm water is great for washing glasses, but sometimes chemical cleaners can offer an extra kick to protect your glasses. However, if you use these sprays, be sure to use sprays and cleansers that are uniquely designed for eyeglass lenses. For example, you should never use standard home cleaners like Windex, because they have ammonia, which removes the coating on the lens. One good brand that is specialized for cleaning sunglasses is Ultra Clarity, which offers 1 oz Spray Bottle and 6 oz Refill Bottles. This product is good for both Standard & Anti Reflective Lenses. Another added bonus is that this product is environmentally friendly, because it's biodegradable.
Sunglasses Care Tips when drying:
You may be tempted to dry your sunglasses with a cloth, but air drying is the best way. Air drying is best because, it allows your glasses to dry without keeping material from sticking to the lenses. If you want to dry them quicker, you could use a soft clean cloth that doesn't contain lint. Magic Fiber offers Microfiber cleaning cloths that are optimal for cleaning your glasses along with any LCD screens and tablets. Thus, you get more bang for your buck because you can use one product for multiple surfaces. Also, the high-quality microfibers absorb and remove anything from dust to fingerprints and everything in between.
What not to use
As mentioned earlier, one crucial sunglasses care tip was to either air dry your shades or use a soft cloth. In this section, you will learn what not to use, which includes standard household materials like paper towels, napkins or even tissues. Although these materials might seem soft, they all have textured surfaces which will easily scratch the lenses.
Although you might be tempted to clean your glasses with your shirt, please think twice. If your clothing isn't 100% cotton, the clothing material will leave your lenses with scratches over the long run. Also, the clothing could have small particles of dirt or dust, which will taint your glasses with residue.
Firm Grip
Have you seen pictures of people with tape holding their glasses together? I can imagine as this is a typical scenario which occurs when people don't properly hold their glasses. When gripping your classes you should hold the frames by the piece that runs over the bridge of the nose. By doing this, you won't bend the frame and distort your glasses. Bent glasses will break easier, hinder your ability to see and will feel uncomfortable.
Proper Storage
Always store your glasses in a safe, place if you're not wearing them. This will protect your glasses from dirt and dust along with potential scratches.
One common sunglasses care tip is to protect your glasses is with a sturdy glasses case. These cases provide great protection, but some of you might want something sleeker. If you feel this way, consider purchasing microfiber pouches. These pouches are perfect for glasses that are used for indoor activities like reading. Luckily, Radians offers a Eyeglasses Case Black Microfiber Bag with Drawstring Closures for all types of glasses. This product could be a good way to keep your reading glasses safe from damage.
Other easy and common sunglasses care tips
- Never put your sunglasses without a case in your pocket, purse or other type of bag. Common items like combs, coins and keys will easily scratch them.
- Refrain from leaving your glasses on the car dashboard, especially on a warm day. Heat is greatly increased inside closed car and will damage the frame structure along with the lens coating.
- Use both hands to take off your glasses. This will keep the frame from being bent and deformed.
- Never wear sunglasses on the top of your head, because the frames will be stretched.
Additional Sunglasses Accessories
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Retaining Bands: These are important for many outdoor sports, especially water sports. As mentioned in a previous post, proper retaining bands can prevent you from losing your shades when surfing and paddle boarding.
- Storage Clip: Storage clips are attached to the visors of your car, which keeps them safe and accessible when you're not using them.
- Chain or cord: Some workers like lifeguards are constantly in and out of the sun, making a cord a useful tool. You won't have to put your sunglasses away continually, which will help you keep track of your glasses.
Other Miscellaneous and Common Tips
This post has gone over some uncommon sunglasses care tips, but some common pieces of advice include not laying your glasses lenses down and daily washing. You can easily leave your lenses face down when rushing between tasks. Instead, you should always keep the lenses up because your lenses will be easily damaged. Another common tip is to wash your glasses daily. Daily washing will remove any smudges or dirt, which will keep your classes in top condition.
It can be frustrating to constantly replace your sunglasses and it's easy to mistakenly damage your glasses. Proper pairs of sunglasses make sports fun and safer, which requires proper care as well as maintenance. Some sunglasses care tips that will help you care for your glasses are rising, careful spraying, using the correct drying materials clothing and proper placement. How else can you take care of your glasses? Please tell us below!